Not two fourth round draft picks. According to ESPN that's the Titan's asking price. Dallas wants Jones, but only at the cost of one fifth round draft choice. Neither offer is going to get accepted.

So, will the poster child for Commissioner Goodale's tough love policy wear the star?

Count on it. The Jones deal is almost at the intersection of need and deed. The Cowboys want Jones and the Titans want him gone.

What's the problem?

The Titans are evaluting offers for Jones based on his talent, and the Cowboys based on his reputation. Jones also has a sneaking su####ion he's the one bidder on a horse that has to be sold.

He's probably right.

If you assume the commissioner is going to reinstate Jones at some point, and from a legal standpoint he doesn't have much choice, PacMan will be playing at a high level for somebody. But for how long? Tennessee wouldn't be offering Jones up if they thought he could stay out of trouble. Their underlying assumption is he will play, but not for long.

You can make a good case for that based on Jones' rap sheet. This has been the first year in memory he hasn't stayed in trouble off the field. And you suspect the only reason is because he wants to get back on the field.

And then?

The Cowboys have the right idea. Jones for a fifth rounder is an investment you can write off if it goes bad. The upside is you acquire a potential all-pro talent at a position of need (cornerback), improve your return game, and free up Dallas' two first round picks to spend on the offensive side of the ball. Three first round picks conjured up out of two.

If Dallas goes much higher for Jones you quickly get to the point of diminishing returns. Certainly a three is out of the question, a four right on the fence. Two fours out of the question. But a four and six? Probably.

Then comes the harder question. Is Jones worth it at any cost?

You can evaluate film, but you can't evaluate the heart and mind as easily. Look at all the arrests, all the bad choices, all the rumors. Imagine you're sitting across from the table with Jones and you've got his off field record, page after page of it. And he says, "It's all true, but I've changed."

Do you believe him? And if you do, why?

Adam "PacMan" Jones isn't all bad. He's been involved in charities, even before his problems started. He can be personable, and is saying all the right things. But is it real? And is he willing to step away from bad associations and habits?

I don't know, but the Titans think they do. And they have had a front row view.

Forget the idea of Jones as a distraction. Professional athletes don't judge newspaper clippings, they judge effort. If PacMan doesn't produce, if he doesn't make the commitment his teammates expect, Dallas will cut their losses. If Jones stay in Dallas becomes a sideshow it will be one that closes quickly.

Then there is the old family values question. How can America's team bring in PacMan Jones? The truth is there isn't a team in the NFL that doesn't have players with problems, most of them the public knows nothing about. And you if think you're corrupting the youth of America by letting Jones play for Dallas, you haven't been paying attention to popular culture for the last decade or so.

Bottom line? If you're the Cowboys and the Titans call, answer it.

But bid low and be prepared to walk away.